The physical basis for seasonal climate prediction lies, to a great extent, in being able to forecast the slowly varying interactions between the atmosphere and the oceans.

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Argo data, along with satellite and other ocean data, feed into regional and global forecast models used for ocean and climate prediction over seasons, years, and decades.

UNESCO: World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)

The outlook issued last week by the Climate Prediction Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration calls for "considerable activity" this hurricane season in the Atlantic.

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Forecasters predict an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, with 13 to 20 named storms, seven to 11 hurricanes and three to six major hurricanes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center said.

CNN: NOAA predicts above-normal Atlantic hurricane season

"All of the computer weather models agree that most of the U.S. will be warmer than usual, but at least we can see the end coming for La Nina, " said Ants Leetmaa, director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.

CNN: La Nina spawns extreme weather

Mr McCallum admitted in a news conference in April that seasonal forecasting was still in its infancy - a cross between climate change prediction and tomorrow's weather forecast.

BBC: Met Office cools summer forecast

Reason is: improve understanding of climate system to aid in detection and prediction.

WSJ: Climate Emails: Science and Candor

Customers will now have the ability to conduct missions, 24x7, through all weather conditions, across most of the planet to help solve some of the world's critical problems such as global climate change, ocean acidification, fisheries management, hurricane prediction, tsunami warning and exploration for valuable natural resources.

ENGADGET: Wave Glider sea robot gets a new version, replete with more power and gear